Darlene Hunter, Vice President and Head of Human Resources at Eastridge, demonstrates how culture can become a true competitive advantage. She connects belonging, clear expectations, and development to productivity, retention, and profitability. Darlene explains why leaders must speak the language of EBITDA while practicing empathy and accountability. She closes with a challenge to define, test, and live an authentic culture of care.

Eric Chin, Chief Financial Officer at Akido Labs, brings unique insight as both a CFO and former Head of HR. He explains how HR leaders can frame proposals in terms of net savings, ROI, and measurable outcomes to gain CFO support. Eric also outlines strategies for building stronger cases around training, development, and retention by linking them to financial impact. He also emphasizes the importance of timing, proactive planning, and continuous improvement as key elements for achieving long-term success.

Dan Bovee, Director, Talent Acquisition & Development at Morey, breaks down how to hire, align, and grow high-performance teams. He explains the concept of “right people, right seats” and why culture drives results. Dan details a challenge-and-encourage leadership approach for promoting psychological safety. He connects culture directly to measurable business outcomes.

Allen Chilson, Director, Talent Acquisition Vendor Management, Global, at Danaher Corporation, examines why most companies struggle with accurate workforce planning. He explains how confidential business-unit roadmaps often exclude HR and procurement, forcing reactive hiring. Allen argues for integrated 3–5-year workforce blueprints that include contingent labor and procurement.

Allen Chilson, Director, Talent Acquisition Vendor Management, Global, at Danaher Corporation, examines why most companies struggle with accurate workforce planning. He explains how confidential business-unit roadmaps often exclude HR and procurement, forcing reactive hiring. Allen argues for integrated 3–5-year workforce blueprints that include contingent labor and procurement.

Michael Wong, Chief Executive Officer at Genea, recounts transforming a near-insolvent firm into a smart-building innovator. He explains why selecting the right market, recruiting high-performance teams, and elevating HR to strategy level fuel sustainable growth. Michael details culture surveys, prescriptive onboarding, and remote-first hiring as keys to scale.

Rodrigo Alcaine, Chief Executive Officer at Eastridge, shares why culture is a long-term commitment that shapes every aspect of business. He explains how intentional leadership and daily alignment of values drive high performance. Culture is not a quick fix, but a foundation for growth. Consistency and accountability from the top set the standard for the entire organization.

Jessica Zucker, Senior Vice President of Industrial and Strategic Staffing at Eastridge Workforce Solutions, reveals how culture and empowerment drive successful talent strategies. She discusses building engaged teams to reach business objectives while staying rooted in servant leadership. Jessica shares personal anecdotes that highlight fostering professional growth from recruitment to ongoing management. Through real examples, she showcases how Eastridge stands out as an industry secret for companies demanding quality hires.